title: Validation of a method for the targeted analysis of 96 drugs in hair by UPLC-MS/MS.
abstract: The method presented in this study allows the screening and quantification of 96 drugs, from different groups: opiates, amphetamines, hallucinogens, benzodiazepines, antihistamines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, barbiturates and other sedatives, muscle relaxants, etc. in hair. Drugs are extracted from 10mg of washed hair in 18h by a mixture of methanol:acetonitrile:ammonium formate (pH 5.3). Absolute recovery ranged from 70% to 106% for 75% of the analytes. The limits of detection in the low pg/mg range, may allow the detection of single dose drug exposure, with possible application in drug facilitated assaults (DFA); however, chronic use (compliance) can also be examined. The method has been fully validated for the drugs included in the study. The accuracy of the method was demonstrated by the analysis of certified authentic hair samples containing common drugs of abuse. The hair-method has broad potential as the measuring range is wide for the target analytes and new drugs can easily be added to the method due to the versatility of the extraction procedure and chromatographic system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00184 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: camilla.montesano@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montesano
authors.forename: Sys Stybe
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Marie Katrine Klose
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000097:Acetonitriles / Q000737:chemistry; D002138:Calibration; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005561:Formates / Q000737:chemistry; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis; D007477:Ions; D016014:Linear Models; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis*; D011786:Quality Control; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012997:Solvents; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D000097:Acetonitriles; D005561:Formates; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007477:Ions; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D012997:Solvents; C030544:formic acid; D000432:Methanol; C032159:acetonitrile
keywords: Drugs of abuse; Hair; Pharmaceuticals; Targeted screening and quantification; UPLC–MS/MS